5. Ethiopia I: History of Ethiopia

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Haile Selassie meeting the American President, John F.
Kennedy, and his wife Jackie, in Washington in 1963

Ethiopia is unusual amongst African countries in that it has not been colonised by a European country for virtually its entire existence. Only Italy occupied it briefly for five years prior to the second world war. This autonomy has allowed for the development of a distinct culture. However, the image of Ethiopia to the outside world is a country devastated by poverty, famine and war.

Ethiopia's economy is heavily reliant on the agricultural sector. 80% of the population work on the land mostly practicing subsistence farming. Successive governments have failed to oversee the implementation of a land tenure system which would guarantee tenant ownership of the land.

Haile Selassie ruled Ethiopia until 1974. Selassie was more interested in International affairs and denied the majority of the people a vested interest in the land they cultivated. The lack of development in Ethiopia came to a head in 1974 when a famine ravaged the country killing 200,000 people. Selassie was overthrown in a military coup and replaced by a Marxist regime headed up by Mengistu.

Mengistu's rule was characterised by political instability with opposition intimidated, tortured and murdered. Economic policies have failed. A massive famine struck the country in 1984. The opposition eventually grew to the extent that Mengistu was forced to flee the country in 1991.